Very interesting case looming over a Baltimore police union official’s remarks on Black Lives Matter activists and whether he can retain his job:

The Baltimore Police union leader suspended this week for calling Black Lives Matter activists “thugs” in a department-wide email faces possible dismissal. But almost nobody cares that this kind of retaliation is possibly unconstitutional.

“I haven’t thought about it,” said Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery, an obscure affirmative action hire until he rocketed to fame by claiming St. Louis cops violated his rights for arresting him while covering the Ferguson riots.

Of course, whether public employees are entitled to legal protection for offensive speech is very complex and depends on a multitude of particular factors. But the city could face an uphill battle if they try to fire Lt. Victor Gearhart, a veteran civil rights lawyer tells the Washington Gadfly.